Moses Fleetwood Walker
Sixty-three years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier during MLB’s so-called modern era, a professional baseball catcher was credited with being the first black man to play in the major leagues. His name was Moses Fleetwood Walker.
A HISTORY OF RACISM
Born in 1856 in Mount Pleasant, Ohio—a sanctuary for runaway slaves—to a biracial couple, Walker grew up in nearby Steubenville. He played baseball at Oberlin College, where his performance against a team from the University of Michigan, in dire need of a catcher, persuaded them to recruit him. He also played semi-professional ball for a company in Cleveland. During that time he first encountered racism when his team traveled to Louisville. He was denied access to the team’s hotel, and the Louisville team refused to play if Walker was on the field.
In 1883 Walker left the University of Michigan and signed a contract to play with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the Northwestern League. The team did well, and the following season it transferred to the American Association, a major league organization, which would later become the American League. Due to injuries Walker performed in only 42 games, less than half of the schedule. The racism continued, including threats of lynching in Virginia via an anonymous letter if he took the field there.
The University of Michigan baseball team. Walker is in the front row, third from right.
AFTER BASEBALL
Walker was released in September of 1884. He played minor league baseball sporadically but ultimately went on to other pursuits. As an inventor he held four patents, including an outer casing for artillery shells. He also wrote articles on race theory and black nationalism, even urging African-Americans to return to Africa after a history of being victimized by white America.
Racism continued to follow Walker. Once, a group of white men were taunting him. One man threw a large rock at his head, and he reciprocated by stabbing the man to death. A jury found him not guilty.
Moses Fleetwood Walker died of lobar pneumonia in 1924 at the age of 67. What he had to endure throughout his life is tragic. What Jackie Robinson had to endure before, during, and after 1947 is tragic.
What is happening in the 21st century…this year…today…is equally tragic.